Chapter Ten: Fault Lines

The mid-morning light filtered through the glass walls of Hargrove Global's Manhattan headquarters, casting sharp reflections across the polished surfaces. Victor sat in his office, his gaze fixed on the city below but his mind far from the view. Angela had delivered her latest report an hour ago, and the details gnawed at him.

Jared's Brooklyn-based startup wasn't just a vanity project or a cover for his vendetta—it was a strategic play. The startup, called Lumina Technologies, was positioning itself as a disruptor in the renewable energy sector, with innovations that could undercut Apex Dynamics and, by extension, Victor's plans. Worse, Jared had managed to attract some of the industry's most promising talent, including several former Hargrove Global employees.

Victor tapped his fingers against the desk, each motion deliberate and controlled. The betrayal of his former employees stung, but it was Jared's audacity that infuriated him. Lumina was small now, but it had the potential to become a thorn in his side—especially with Jared's apparent willingness to burn money to keep it afloat.

Angela entered without knocking, holding a tablet loaded with more information. "I thought you'd want to see this," she said, placing it in front of him.

Victor glanced at the screen, skimming the highlighted sections. Lumina had secured a substantial investment from a venture capital firm that typically avoided risky startups. The connection wasn't immediately clear, but Angela had flagged a name in the firm's leadership: Elliot Kane's brother, David Kane.

Victor leaned back in his chair, his lips pressing into a thin line. "So Jared's not just working with a journalist—he's tied into his family network. That's bold."

Angela folded her arms. "It's more than bold. It's calculated. Jared's leveraging every relationship he has, and it's working. The Kanes aren't just funding Lumina—they're building a platform for his story."

Victor stood, pacing the room. "What's our leverage? Have we found anything on Jared or the Kanes that can discredit them?"

Angela hesitated. "Not yet. Jared's been careful, and David Kane's firm is clean—at least on paper. We're still digging, but so far, there's nothing actionable."

Victor stopped pacing and turned to her, his expression steely. "Then dig deeper. Everyone has secrets, Angela. I want theirs on my desk by the end of the week."

She nodded but didn't leave. Her hesitation caught Victor's attention.

"What is it?" he asked sharply.

"There's something else," Angela said slowly. "I don't think we've fully assessed how far Jared's willing to go. He's playing a longer game here. He's not just attacking Avalon or Apex. He's making himself a symbol—of resistance, of fighting back against corporate corruption. If he can get the public on his side, he won't need to win the business battle. He'll win the war of perception."

Victor's jaw tightened. "So, you're saying we need to get ahead of the narrative before it even takes shape."

Angela met his eyes. "Exactly. If he frames this as a David vs. Goliath story—us versus the little guy—it won't matter how many zeroes are in the deal. We'll be the villain."

Victor exhaled sharply, the weight of it all sinking in. His entire empire—everything he had built—could be dismantled with a few well-placed headlines. Jared had learned from his past mistakes, and now he was playing a dangerous game.

"I'll handle the media side. You focus on the Kanes and Lumina," Victor said, his voice now calm, almost detached. "We're not just fighting for market share anymore. This is about controlling the story."

Later that afternoon, Victor stood on the terrace of his office, staring out over the city as the sun dipped lower in the sky. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he answered before it could ring twice.

"Victor," Angela's voice came through, tight with urgency. "We found something."

Victor's pulse quickened, but he kept his voice steady. "Go ahead."

"It's not much, but it's enough. David Kane's firm has had ties to some shell companies that have been funnelling money into a number of shadow projects—many of them linked to defense contractors. The financials are murky at best. If we can uncover the connections, it could be enough to publicly tie the Kanes to questionable practices."

Victor's lips curled into a small, approving smile. "Now we have a weapon."

Angela's voice softened. "Just be careful. The last thing we want is to get caught in a crossfire between their politics and ours."

Victor's expression hardened. "I've never shied away from a fight. If Jared wants a war, we'll give him one. But we'll make sure the terms are on our side."

That evening, as the city lights glittered against the darkened skyline, Victor sat in his penthouse, reviewing the latest developments. He felt a familiar sense of clarity wash over him. This wasn't just about beating Jared. It was about reasserting control—not just of the business, but of the narrative that would shape the world's perception of him.

He looked down at the documents in front of him, each piece of evidence building a stronger case against Jared's backers. The Kanes' connection to these murky projects would give him the leverage he needed to undermine Jared's credibility.

Victor's phone buzzed again, this time with a text from Angela.

Angela: We've traced the shell companies back to an offshore account. They're moving large sums of money through it. It's enough to break them if we go public with it.

Victor smiled to himself. He'd known this was coming. The pieces had been falling into place, and now the board was set.

It's almost time, he thought.

The next morning, Victor stood in front of his team, a sense of resolve in his posture. "We're about to launch a counteroffensive. The Kanes are compromised, and we're going to expose them for it. I want every detail, every discrepancy, out in the open."

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in the room. "Jared might think he's fighting for the truth, but all he's really fighting for is control. And control is something I don't relinquish easily."

The team nodded, understanding the gravity of what was at stake.

As Victor left the room, he felt the familiar rush of adrenaline. The game was in motion now, and he was no longer playing defense. Jared had given him an opening. And Victor Hargrove would make sure it was the last mistake his rival ever made.